From the President

It is a great pleasure for me to present the 2003 Annual Report of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Atlantic (NACC MA). The main goals for 2003 were to provide networking and marketing opportunities for our members and arrange meetings with high profile leaders from the public and private sectors, increase the network of companies and individuals, number of Norwegian member companies, and secure funding of increased activities and augmented administrative efforts. I am pleased to report that all of these goals were successfully completed.

The Chamber continued its successful growth in 2003, despite the soft economy and tightened corporate budgets. At the end of 2003, the diverse membership portfolio consisted of 30 member companies of which 18 were American, 9 Norwegian subsidiaries and 3 Norwegian. Among the 112 individual members, 65 represent the companies and 47 are individual members. The progress was achieved by outstanding support and assistance from the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, the committees, members, and by excellent support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C.

We are still an organization in its early development stage and are proud of how quickly we have grown. Our strength is tied to the growing diversified regional and international network of member companies and professional individuals, and our location in Washington D.C. with easy access to top leaders in the private and public sectors. The capitol is among the most important in the world where policy and decision makers from government and industry have significant influence on international affairs, trade and business.

In 2003 the Chamber and the Embassy jointly conducted a successful fundraising activity involving Chamber support and initiatives to secure the now famous Norwegian Christmas at Union Station Festival, which resulted in another successful Christmas at Union Station celebration. This event provides great marketing and name recognition opportunities and I am very pleased that so many of our member companies participated as sponsors.

The goals for 2004 are to improve networking, marketing and business opportunities and to secure and improve membership benefits and individual membership and services through programmed events, and support of international development programs. Norway and the United States are great nations with high living standards and growing international businesses. Unfortunately, not all nations are at the same development stage and the fight against poverty has become an international responsibility. The Development Millennium Goals set forth by the United Nations require participation from the private industry. The Chamber will encourage members to participate in U.S and Norwegian government and private sector programs being developed by the two countries.

The January 2004 merger of several Norwegian government agency business development organizations that lead to the establishment of Innovation Norway, the upcoming 2004 Norwegian Christmas at Union Station Festival and the planned 2005 program for the Norwegian Centennial Anniversary of Independence provides new marketing and business opportunities. I will encourage our members to participate and take advantage of these and other upcoming events in cooperation with the Chamber.

Once again, thank you all for your excellent support and assistance. I am looking forward to your continued support and active participation in 2004.